Table supporting structure



Sept. 7, 1965 J. G. MARBAN TABLE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11, 1962 TNVEN'TOR. fiarmrkaz More Sept. 7, 1965 .1. G. MARBAN I TABLE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1962 INVENTOR.

Arr-oz FIEZLZl Sept. 7, 1965 J. G. MARBAN TABLE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 11, 1962 I NVENTOR Jill/41V 607152262 M42124 Arron r:

United States Patent M 3,204,905 TABLE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Julian Gutierrez Marban, 6233 Broolrview Ave. S., Minneapolis 24, Minn. Filed May 11, 1962, Ser. No. 194,074 8 Clm'ms. (Cl. 248-188) This invention relates particularly to improvement in the construction of industrial work tables. Such tables are required in various lengths for many industrial purposes, such as in the processing and assembling of articles, packing articles and the like.

It is a common practice to construct industrial work tables by having the legs integral with the top in a unitary construction by being secured thereto as by brackets and screws. Side or lateral members are generally extended between the legs as support for the table top. The legs are dependent for their rigidity upon the manner of their being fastened or secured to the table top. By the very nature of this construction, a substantial top member is required. Such a construction moreover requires a certain degree of skill in assembly to position the legs and top in a squared position relative to one another. Tools are necessarily required for such an assembly. Such a construction as indicated also has a relatively limited use life as legs become loosened and wobbly from use. Further such tables of unitary construction do not lend themselves to adjustment in size and considerable storage space is required for storage of the tables during non-use periods. It is appreciated that there are work tables having foldable legs, but such tables generally do not have the requisite strength and rigidity for heavy use. An all metal type of table is also available but such tables are relatively expensive and of considerable weight.

It is desirable therefore, and an object of this invention, to provide an adjustable assembly structure for an industrial table comprising an extremely rigid yet readily demountable supporting structure completely independent of the top member for its strength and rigidity.

It is another object of this invention to provide a knock down type of table supporting construction readily assembled without the use of any tools and being adjustable to any desired length. I

It is a further object of this invention to provide a work table supporting structure comprised of interchangeable units which are self-squaring and self-leveling in being assembled and which provide for extended length and for the use of additional removable auxiliary supporting legs and auxiliary top supporting cross members.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a supporting structure comprising lateral or horizontal supporting members having brackets joining said members in longitudinal alignment and in right-angled relationship to one another, some of said brackets comprising leg members, said brackets and said members having cooperating engaging portions with means for holding the same in releasably locked relationship for an extremely rigid construction.

It is an object of this invention to provide a table supporting structure comprising members to be assembled into a rigid construction by the use of hand tightened fastening means in connection with which any desired top may be used either removably positioned thereon or bonded thereto.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a relatively lightweight table construction comparable in strength and rigidity to a heavyweight, heavy duty industrial table of common design.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in 3204,95 Patented Sept. 7, I965 which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded view of one embodiment of the applicants invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan fragmentary view on a reduced scale of applicants invention as shown in FIG. 1 in as iernbled condition with portions thereof shown in dotted ine;

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale in vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 as indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modification thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded view of a modification of applicants invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan fragmentary view of applicants invention as shown in FIG. 5 in assembled condition;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of a portion of applicants invention as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary partially exploded view of a modification of applicants invention;

FIG. 9 is a top plan fragmentary view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in assembled condition;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary exploded view of a modification of applicants invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the invention shown in FIG. 10 in assembled condition;

FIG. 12 is an exploded fragmentary View of a modification of applicants invention;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary top plan view of the invention shown in FIG. 12 in assembled condition; and

FIG. 14 is a view in vertical section taken on line 1414 of FIG. 13.

In describing the applicants structure in the several forms in which it is disclosed, a completed structure is not shown. Only so much is shown of the applicants structure as is believed necessary for a full and clear understanding of it by one skilled in the art to enable such a person to make a complete structure.

The purpose of the applicants apparatus is to provide a table supporting structure, or in other words a supporting structure for a table top with the supporting structure being completely independent of the top member for its assembly and for its strength and rigidity. Inasmuch as the installation of a table onto the applicants supporting structure and the particular manner of securing it is a matter of choice and not within the particular scope of the applicants invention, there is no showing here made of a top member.

1 One embodiment of the applicants structure is a preferred form disclosing a corner structure is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Elongated side or horizontal members 10 and 10 are shown indicated as being rectangular in cross section and identical in construction to be interchangeable in use. Each character used to describe member 10 with a prime added refers to a corresponding part of member 10. Said member 10 comprises a rearward side 10a, a forward side 10b, upper and lower side portions and end portions 10d. The upper and lower sides are identical as are the end portions.

Extending longitudinally of said side 10a in transversely or vertically spaced relation and parallel to said upper and lower sides is a pair of grooves 14. It is not necessary that said grooves extend the full length of said member 10 as shown but that they be present at either end portion thereof.

At the ends 10a of said member 10 are inwardly extending open-ended slots 17 parallel to said grooves 14. Adjacent each of the closed ends of said slot 17 in said forward side 10b is a groove 19 extending in a direction at right angles to the direction of said grooves 14 and having a right-angled intersection with said upper and lower sides c. Said members 10 and 10' are here indicated as being formed of a material such as wood.

Members 10 and 10' may be of any desired length, but it is convenient to have them in lengths to support standard sized sheet material, such as would be suitable for forming a top member.

In connection with said members 10 and 10' are clamping members 20 and 25. Said clamping member 20 comprises a leg formed of right-angled sheet material having an upper portion 20a and a lower depending tapered portion 20b of a common design. Said upper portion 20a comprises sides 20c and 20d having rightangled flanges 20c and 20 at their. remote edge portions with said flanges being vertically disposed in operating position and of a size to nicely fit or mate with said grooves 19 and 19'. Present in said sides 20c and 200? are apertures 20g positioned to be in alignment with said slots 17 and 17'.

In cooperation with said clamping member 20 is clamping member 25 in the form of a longitudinally rightangled U-channel member having sides 25a and 25b each respectively having a pair of forwardly extending flanges 25c and 25d of a thickness and depth to nicely mate with said grooves 14 and 14'. Present in said sides 25a and 25b are elongated slots 25 positioned to be in alignment with said slots 17 and 17' and said apertures 29g.

As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, disposed through said apertures 20g, slots 17 and 17 and said slots 25;, are bolts 28 having wing nuts 29. Said slots 17 and 17' will be somewhat greater in height than the apertures 20g and slots 25 With reference to FIG. 4, a coil spring 30 is shown disposed about the shank of said bolt 28 disposed through the slots 17 and 17' and bearing against the inner sides of said clamping members 20 and 25.

Operation Applicants entire invention embodies a clamping structure for forming corner joints and for joining horizontal members in longitudinal alignment to form a supporting structure of whatever width or length is desired. Applicants structure is preferably sized to be usable with standard sizes of sheet material suitable for forming top members.

. Applicants structure is extremely rigid. This is effected by the clamping members 20 and 25 respectively having flange portions receivable within the mating grooves of the members 10 and 10' in directions or planes at angles to one another. The flanges and grooves are formed to have a depth on the order of inch with the members 10 and 10 in a practical size being on the order of Ainch by 4 inches in vertical cross sectional dimension.

The clamping members 20 and 25 are brought into engagement with the members 10 and 10' as indicated in FIG. 2 with the fastening means comprising the bolts 28 and wing nuts 29. The wing nuts are easily tightened by hand. A great deal of compression is not required for a good solid clamping hold. With the flanges fitting snugly within the grooves to avoid the presence of any play, there is no need for the flanges or grooves to have any great depth. The grooves are sufficiently shallow so as not to weaken the members 10 and 10' in any appreciable degree.

It is noted that the adjacent ends of the members 10 and 10' do not engage and hence there is no need for the ends to be squared away. The grooves however must be accurate as to size and as to alignment relative to one another and to the upper edge portions of the members 10 and 10. The grooves 14 and 14 are spaced as far apart as is practical to permit the clamping member 25 to be as wide as possible. Further with reference to FIG. 3, it is noted that the members 10 and 10' extend upwardly somewhat above the upper edge portion of the clamping member 20 for convenience in securing a top member to the upper edge surfaces of said members 10 and 10'. The alignment and mating of the flanges and grooves automatically produce a squared and level structure for supporting a top member.

The bolts 28 need not be removed to pull the members 10 and 10' away from the clamping members 20 and 25. The bolts need just to be loosened sufl'iciently for the flanges 2% and 20 to be free of the grooves 19 and 19'. The members 10 and 10 can then be pulled free readily.

The slots 25 because of their length remain in alignment with apertures 20g regardless of the thickness of the members 10 and/or 10. It is obvious that the numbers 10 and 10 need not be of the same thickness.

With reference to FIG. 4, the coiled spring 30 readily separates the clamping members 20 and 25 as the bolt 28 is loosened.

With reference to FIGS. 5-7, a modification of applicants structure disclosing a simplified design is shown. Identical elongated horizontal members 32 and 32 are shown. Characters used to describe the member 32 with a prime added indicate corresponding parts of member 32'. Said member 32 has a forward side 32a and ends 32b. Extending inwardly from each of said ends in said forward side 32a are longitudinal grooves 33 parallel to the upper side 320 of said member 33 and having grooves 34 at right angles thereto or vertically disposed in operating position adjacent the inner ends thereof. The end portions of said member 32 are identical so as to be interchangeable. Extending transversely through each of said grooves 33 and through said member 32 are apertures 35.

Adapted to mate with said members 32 and 32' is a clamping member 38 which is a modification of said member 20. Said member 38 is a right-angled tapered leg formed of sheet material, such as of metal, having an upper or clamping portion 38a and a lower portion 38b. Said upper portion 38a has sides 38c and 38d respectively having flanges 38c and 38 at their free side edge portions, which flanges are identical to the flanges 20c and 20f. Extending rearwardly of said sides 38c and 38d is an outwardly extendiing rib or flange 3811 with apertures 38k extending through said rib and said sides 38c and 38d. Said flanges 382 and 38 and said rib 38h respectively will be formed to mate very nicely with said grooves 34 and 34' and said grooves 33 and 33. Said apertures 38k will be in alignment with said apertures 35 and 35. Disposed through said apertures will be bolts 28 having wing nuts 29;

Operation Relative to the structure disclosed in FIGS. 1-4, the structure here has been substantially simplified. The horizontal members 32 and 32 have both a vertical and horizontal groove on one side thereof with the sole clamping member 38 having corresponding flanges on the inner side thereof. This structure is very satisfactory where the unusual degree of strength present in the first embodiment disclosed is not necessary.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, an embodiment of applicants invention is shown for joining longitudinally aligned members. The horizontal members 10 and 10' are shown used in this embodiment. In connection with said members 10 and 10 is a leg member 45 forming a clamping member which is here shown having a flat tapered body portion 46 having an upper portion 46a having right-angled flange portions 46b and 460. Said flanges will be formed for mating engagement with the vertical grooves 19 and 19'. Extending outwardly at right angles from said body portion 46 is a rib 47 shown having an outward projection of greater distance than the thickness of said members 10 and 10'. Said rib is disposed between the adjacent ends of said members 10 and 10' and extending outwardly therefrom. Said upper portion 46a has apertures 48 in alignment with said slots 17 and 17 Designed to mate with said clamping member 45 is a clamping member 50 comprising a U-shaped saddle portion 51 having a recessed inner vertical wall 51a having an open-ended slot 51b formed rearwardly thereof adapted to receive the portion of said rib 47 projecting beyond said members and 10 as illustrated. Extending through the sides of said portion 51 are aligned apertures 51c. Extending oppositely at right angles to said saddle portion 51 at either side of said slot 51b are side portions 52 and 53 respectively having outwardly extending flanges 52a and 53a with said flanges being designed to matingly engage said grooves 14 and 14'. Present in said sides 52 and 53 are apertures 52b and 53b to be in alignment with the slots 17 and 17' and the apertures 48, and disposed through said apertures as indicated in FIG. 9 are bolts 28 having wing nuts 29. Shown supported in said saddle portion 51 is a broken portion of a cross member 53.

Operation The structure herein provides for joining longitudinally any desired number of side or horizontal members 10. The leg 46 forms a flat clamping member which in cooperation with the clamping member 59 functions in a manner similar to that of the corner clamping members 20 and 25. Clamping member 45 however has an extended vertical rib 47 disposed between the adjacent ends of the members 10 and 10' and extending somewhat therebeyond to be disposed in the vertical slot 51b of clamp 50 for support additional to that provided by the mating grooves and flanges. A saddle portion 51 is provided to support a cross member. It is understood that said clamping members will be installed in pairs in opposed relation at either side of a completed supporting structure. If desired, a bolt may be disposed through the aperture 51c and through the cross member supported therebetween.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a simplified design is shown of the structure disclosed in FIGS. 8 and 9. In connection with the longitudinal members 10 and 10' is a flat leg member 55 having a lower tapered portion 55a and a substantially rectangular upper portion 5512 having right-angled flanges 55c and 55d at either side edge portion thereof formed to fit snugly into the vertical grooves 19 and 19' of said members It and 10 respectively. Spaced between said flanges are apertures 552 to be in alignment with the slots 17 and 17.

Cooperating with said clamping member 55 is a clamping member 57 formed as a U-channel member having a side wall 58 having flanges 58a adapted to mate with the longitudinal grooves 14 and 14' and having spaced elongated slots 58b in alignment with said slots 17 and 17' and apertures 552, as indicated in FIG. 11. Bolts 28 and wing nuts 29 are provided for securing said clamping members and members 10 and 10'.

The assembly and cooperative function of the structure here disclosed is believed to be readily obvious.

With reference to FIGS. 1214, applicant discloses an embodiment of his invention having to do with a corner construction formed of all metal members. The elongated side or longitudinal members 60 and 60 are comparable to the members 10 and 10 and are here formed as U-channel members respectively having web or side portions 61 and 61 and rearwardly extending flange portions 62 and 62'.

Extending inwardly from the adjacent end portions 60b and 60b are open-ended longitudinal slots 63 and 63' respectively parallel to said flanges. Adjacent the respective closed or inner ends of said slots are vertical slots 64 and 64'. A clamping member 67 forming a leg member similar to the leg member 20 is provided having an upper portion having sides 67:: and 67b and a lower tapered portion 670. Said sides 67a and 67b respectively have rearwardly extending die cut flanges or ears 68 and 69 formed to be disposed through said slots 64 and 64' and to extend the full width of said flanges 62 and 62'. Present in said sides 67a and 67b are apertures 70 to be in alignment with slots 63 and 63 in clamped position.

Cooperating with said elongated members 60 and 60' and said clamping member 67 is a longitudinally rightangled clamping member 75 in the form of a U-channel member having web or side portions 75a and 75b and pairs of forwardly extending flanges 75c and 75d, with said sides having elongated slots 75a and 75f therein to be in alignment wtih said slots 63 and 63'. Said member 75 will be of a width to have said flanges 75c and 75d fit snugly between said flanges 62 and 62' respectively with the flanges 68 and 69 bearing against said sides 75a and 75b. Bolts 28 with wing nuts 29 will be used as fastening means.

Operation The structure set forth in FIGS. 1-4 embodied the use of side or horizontal members being formed of a material such as wood or an equivalent. The embodiment here disclosed is designed to use metal channel members for the side or horizontal support members. In lieu of having flanges received in grooves, the horizontal flanges of the member 75 are disposed between the horizontal flanges of the horizontal members Mind 60 for a snug fit, and the vertical flanges 68 and 69 are disposed through the slots 64 and 64' into abutting engagement with the sides 75a and 75b of said member 75. The corner joint formed is shown inclamped position in FIG. 13.

It is obvious with reference to FIG. 10 that the above structure is readily adapted to provide a straight clamped joint.

Thus it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple and efiicient table supporting structure of great strength and rigidity and which in a knocked-down or disassembled condition would take up only a nominal space for storage and is readily handled as for shipment. The applicants structure represents a substantial improvement in the art.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention which, generally stated, consists in a structure capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A table supporting structure having in combination,

a pair of elongated members substantially rectangular in cross section and having adjacent end portions,

each of said elongated members having a longitudinal groove and a groove at an angle to its longitudinal groove,

clamping means having flange portions mating with said respective grooves, and

means removably locking said clamping means and said elongated members in a rigid embrace.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1,

said second grooves respectively being at right angles to said first mentioned grooves.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, and

said first mentioned grooves respectively being parallel to the plane of the upper edge portions of said elongated members.

4. A table supporting structure having in combination,

an elongated member substantially rectangular in cross section having a longitudinal groove at one side thereof parallel to the plane of its upper edge portion,

said member having a slot at either end thereof and a groove at one side thereof at an angle to said longitudinal groove at either end portion thereof respectively adjacent the inner ends of said slots,

a second elongated member of identical construction to said first elongated member and having one end thereof adjacent one end of said first mentioned elongated member, the upper edge portions of said first and second elongated members being disposed in a common plane,

clamping means having flange portions engaging said longitudinal and said angled grooves of said respective elongated members at their adjacent end portions, and

means for removably locking said clamping means and said elongated members in a rigid embrace.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4,

said second grooves being disposed at right angles to said longitudinal grooves.

6. The structure set forth in claim .4,

said longitudinal grooves and said angled grooves of said respective elongated members being at opposite sides thereof.

7. The structure set forth in claim 4,

said clamping means comprising a supporting leg having an upper clamping portion having a rib mating with said longitudinal grooves of said adjacent end portions of said elongated members and a cooperating clamping portion having spaced flanges for mating with said angled grooves of said adjacent end portions.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7,

said last mentioned means comprising spaced bolts having wing nuts in connection therewith and being disposed through said clamping portions and through the respective slots of said elongated members disposed therebetween, and

coil springs respectively disposed on the shanks of said bolts and through said slots to bear against the facing sides of said clamping portions,

whereby said springs are under compression when said wing nuts are tightened onto said bolts and said springs automatically separate said clamping portions from said elongated members when said wing nuts are loosened.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 353,144 11/86 Langston 248l88 403,709 5/89 Upson 296-30 893,676 7/08 Tschantz 2092 1,307,973 6/19 Hester 189-78 1,834,313 12/31 Kaufman 248l88 1,882,678 10/32 Thum 108161 2,143,542 1/39 Clarin 248188 2,217,914 10/40 McMahan 248188 2,499,668 3/50 Morgan 108155 2,611,160 9/52 Hanesse 20--92 2,809,404 10/57 Hinds 2092 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,058,272 11/53 France.

637,570 5/50 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Prmary Examiner. 

1. A TABLE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE HAVING IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF ELONGATED MEMBERS SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR IN CROSS SECTION AND HAVING ADJACENT END PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBERS HAVING A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE AND A GROOVE AT AN ANGLE TO ITS LONGITUDINAL GROOVE, CLAMPING MEANS HAVING FLANGE PORTIONS MATING WITH SAID RESPECTIVE GROOVES, AND MEANS REMOVABLY LOCKING SAID CLAMPING MEANS AND SAID ELONGATED MEMBERS IN A RIGID EMBRACE. 